Banneker vs. Walls

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Ivy interviewer began posting these anti-Banneker rants on here back in 2012, when the SAT had three parts and scores were typically given separately for each section. Now that the SAT is two parts again, everyone refers to the cumulative score. She’s not trying to understate the score, she’s just behind the times.

Sounds like Banneker is behind the times with slightly improved but still grim scores, and the Ivy League interviewer is spot on.

[Anonymous]

You post this story again and again. We get it, your kid is a top student, Banneker or no Banneker. Good for him, good for your family, he'll surely go far, at least if he starts getting enough sleep. We also get that most Banneker students aren't like him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the parents of Banneker kids: what type of hw do they get? How many assignments per night? Are the kids stressed out? I have eperiences with Walls and the kids were stressed out. That is what I want to compare. Walls also did not provide good counseling and have a warm atmosphere. But there were positives too, like good college preparation. and a strong group of peers.

My son is junior at Banneker and gets a lot of homework. He usually works until 1:00 or 2:00 am and averages 5 or so assignments each day. The students do get stressed out. But, I can't compare it to other places.

He took the PSAT 8/9 in freshman year, PSAT in sophomore, and PSAT and SAT in junior year. He took a summer SAT prep class at Banneker. He scored a 1500 on his SAT.

He'll take 6 AP classes before he's finished. He scored a 5 on the AP World History exam sophomore year. His AP teachers did a lot of prep work including taking mock exams on Saturdays. He will be in AP calculus next year.

The college counseling isn't much to brag about.

I have been pleased with the school. The teachers are good, believe in the school, and push the students hard.

I'm blown away at how the school is discussed on this website. I'm Black and I straddle two worlds having grown up in DC and attending a white, top 25 universoty. I don't understand the "affirmative action" criticism in this thread. The school doesn't make excuses, sets high expectations for students, and can get students with negative social determinants to good places. Each student must choose IB or an AP track. If more white people applied, there would be more white students.

I'm not saying that it's the best school around. But, if you're considering the school, don't decide based on what you're reading on this website. Look for yourself.

If Banneker is as good as all that, why do you think more whites don't apply, and Asians don't seem to apply at all? Unadulterated racism, poor PR, or a more complicated confluence of factors?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the parents of Banneker kids: what type of hw do they get? How many assignments per night? Are the kids stressed out? I have eperiences with Walls and the kids were stressed out. That is what I want to compare. Walls also did not provide good counseling and have a warm atmosphere. But there were positives too, like good college preparation. and a strong group of peers.

My son is junior at Banneker and gets a lot of homework. He usually works until 1:00 or 2:00 am and averages 5 or so assignments each day. The students do get stressed out. But, I can't compare it to other places.

He took the PSAT 8/9 in freshman year, PSAT in sophomore, and PSAT and SAT in junior year. He took a summer SAT prep class at Banneker. He scored a 1500 on his SAT.

He'll take 6 AP classes before he's finished. He scored a 5 on the AP World History exam sophomore year. His AP teachers did a lot of prep work including taking mock exams on Saturdays. He will be in AP calculus next year.

The college counseling isn't much to brag about.

I have been pleased with the school. The teachers are good, believe in the school, and push the students hard.

I'm blown away at how the school is discussed on this website. I'm Black and I straddle two worlds having grown up in DC and attending a white, top 25 universoty. I don't understand the "affirmative action" criticism in this thread. The school doesn't make excuses, sets high expectations for students, and can get students with negative social determinants to good places. Each student must choose IB or an AP track. If more white people applied, there would be more white students.

I'm not saying that it's the best school around. But, if you're considering the school, don't decide based on what you're reading on this website. Look for yourself.

I don't understand your objections. PPs have pointed out that affirmative action appears to be on its way out, with new help from the Supreme Court. It has been noted that Banneker doesn't seem to be changing it's approach to academic prep, college admissions, or its own admissions. I don't hear criticism as much as reasonable predictions. It's telling that top Banneker students take around 4 AP exams while the strongest minority Basis students take twice that number. Why did the District needed a corporate Arizona charter franchise to step in to provide the most serious college prep to the strongest AA students in the system? Is that criticism, or just a good question?

Nobody should be shocked if this SC comes at affirmative action in 2023 like it's coming at abortion in 2022.

[Anonymous]

complicated confluence of factors. but there is seemingly a very high-achieving segment of the student body present at banneker that does seem to get somewhat ignored here because neither every student nor the average student necessarily/fully fits the same mold. the same could probably be said about a lot of other schools (latin, dci, certain private schools).

[Anonymous]

The homework overkill is my main worry about the school. THAT seems very old school to me. What’s the point of all the homework/busywork if it’s not producing better students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the parents of Banneker kids: what type of hw do they get? How many assignments per night? Are the kids stressed out? I have eperiences with Walls and the kids were stressed out. That is what I want to compare. Walls also did not provide good counseling and have a warm atmosphere. But there were positives too, like good college preparation. and a strong group of peers.

My son is junior at Banneker and gets a lot of homework. He usually works until 1:00 or 2:00 am and averages 5 or so assignments each day. The students do get stressed out. But, I can't compare it to other places.

He took the PSAT 8/9 in freshman year, PSAT in sophomore, and PSAT and SAT in junior year. He took a summer SAT prep class at Banneker. He scored a 1500 on his SAT.

He'll take 6 AP classes before he's finished. He scored a 5 on the AP World History exam sophomore year. His AP teachers did a lot of prep work including taking mock exams on Saturdays. He will be in AP calculus next year.

The college counseling isn't much to brag about.

I have been pleased with the school. The teachers are good, believe in the school, and push the students hard.

I'm blown away at how the school is discussed on this website. I'm Black and I straddle two worlds having grown up in DC and attending a white, top 25 universoty. I don't understand the "affirmative action" criticism in this thread. The school doesn't make excuses, sets high expectations for students, and can get students with negative social determinants to good places. Each student must choose IB or an AP track. If more white people applied, there would be more white students.

I'm not saying that it's the best school around. But, if you're considering the school, don't decide based on what you're reading on this website. Look for yourself.

I don't understand your objections. PPs have pointed out that affirmative action appears to be on its way out, with new help from the Supreme Court. It has been noted that Banneker doesn't seem to be changing it's approach to academic prep, college admissions, or its own admissions. I don't hear criticism as much as reasonable predictions. It's telling that top Banneker students take around 4 AP exams while the strongest minority Basis students take twice that number. Why did the District needed a corporate Arizona charter franchise to step in to provide the most serious college prep to the strongest AA students in the system? Is that criticism, or just a good question?

Nobody should be shocked if this SC comes at affirmative action in 2023 like it's coming at abortion in 2022.

My main focus was on the person who asked about homework at the school. I encourage that person and anyone else who is looking at high schools to avoid dismissing Banneker because of what they read in this thread. I gave facts about my current experience and how my child is doing. I'm not arguing that Banneker is the best school around. I'm simply encouraging people to look for themselves and not get thrown off by what's being said in this thread.

Regarding affirmative action, I'm not debating what the SC might do. You wrote earlier that the school "operates in an affirmative action time warp". The school itself accepts the best students who submit applications and then pushes them hard to do their best. So, I don't understand what you're saying.

Finally, for prospective parents, read my prior post about my son who's a junior a Banneker. It is current and accurate. Some of the other posts in this thread aren't accurate. For example, the statement that "It's telling that top Banneker students take around 4 AP exams" is wrong. My son will take 6 exams. You can debate if 6 is good or not. But, you should start with facts.

[Anonymous]

As has been pointed out, too little too late. That’s why Basis DC tried, and failed, to start an elementary school program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the parents of Banneker kids: what type of hw do they get? How many assignments per night? Are the kids stressed out? I have eperiences with Walls and the kids were stressed out. That is what I want to compare. Walls also did not provide good counseling and have a warm atmosphere. But there were positives too, like good college preparation. and a strong group of peers.

My son is junior at Banneker and gets a lot of homework. He usually works until 1:00 or 2:00 am and averages 5 or so assignments each day. The students do get stressed out. But, I can't compare it to other places.

He took the PSAT 8/9 in freshman year, PSAT in sophomore, and PSAT and SAT in junior year. He took a summer SAT prep class at Banneker. He scored a 1500 on his SAT.

He'll take 6 AP classes before he's finished. He scored a 5 on the AP World History exam sophomore year. His AP teachers did a lot of prep work including taking mock exams on Saturdays. He will be in AP calculus next year.

The college counseling isn't much to brag about.

I have been pleased with the school. The teachers are good, believe in the school, and push the students hard.

I'm blown away at how the school is discussed on this website. I'm Black and I straddle two worlds having grown up in DC and attending a white, top 25 universoty. I don't understand the "affirmative action" criticism in this thread. The school doesn't make excuses, sets high expectations for students, and can get students with negative social determinants to good places. Each student must choose IB or an AP track. If more white people applied, there would be more white students.

I'm not saying that it's the best school around. But, if you're considering the school, don't decide based on what you're reading on this website. Look for yourself.

If Banneker is as good as all that, why do you think more whites don't apply, and Asians don't seem to apply at all? Unadulterated racism, poor PR, or a more complicated confluence of factors?

This is my last post because this thread is unhealthy.

Yes, there is a more complicated confluence of factors. Some of the reasons might be what you have written in this thread. But, consider the historical context. This city is very segregated. I also suspect that it's a hard decision for white people to put their children in a situation where they're a minority. We (black people) are regularly the exception. But, it doesn't happen as much for white people in this country.

OK, that's it for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You post this story again and again. We get it, your kid is a top student, Banneker or no Banneker. Good for him, good for your family, he'll surely go far, at least if he starts getting enough sleep. We also get that most Banneker students aren't like him.

NP (without a kids at Banneker who watches bewildered this forum). We get it. You are oddly invested in Banneker and seemingly just angry (about what we have no idea).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As has been pointed out, too little too late. That’s why Basis DC tried, and failed, to start an elementary school program.

My child is at Basis. My child loves Basis. I love Basis. In a million years I would NEVER sign my ECE kid up for a Basis-type program. You have no idea who or what your kid is at that age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The homework overkill is my main worry about the school. THAT seems very old school to me. What’s the point of all the homework/busywork if it’s not producing better students?

I think the huge emphasis on so much homework without producing great results at the expense of everything else such as extracurriculars with spurts, clubs, etc.. is a big negative why many middle class families don’t send their kids to Banneker.

I support homework but with the volume till 1 or 2am in addition to Saturday prep classes. Not for our DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The homework overkill is my main worry about the school. THAT seems very old school to me. What’s the point of all the homework/busywork if it’s not producing better students?

If the amount of homework doesn't fit with your approach to school/life balance then by all means you should not send your kid there. That seems logical. For some people lots of homework is something they are looking for in a school. What confuses me is the idea that because something doesn't fit with your perspective it must necessarily be wrong for everyone (to be clear, PP, you didn't say that, many others did).

I'd also argue that the "too much homework as the reason UMC and white people don't choose the school" explanation doesn't track with other available data. For instance, Basis gives tons of homework and it is very popular with white and UMC families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The homework overkill is my main worry about the school. THAT seems very old school to me. What’s the point of all the homework/busywork if it’s not producing better students?

I think the huge emphasis on so much homework without producing great results at the expense of everything else such as extracurriculars with spurts, clubs, etc.. is a big negative why many middle class families don’t send their kids to Banneker.

I support homework but with the volume till 1 or 2am in addition to Saturday prep classes. Not for our DC.

If your kid is up till 2am doing homework then you need to reach out to the school to figure out what is wrong. That should not be the case. Clear indication that your kid is not processing and/or able to express their knowledge in a reasonable process or timeline.

This is not intended as a shot at your kid. Just an observation based on the facts you have presented.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The homework overkill is my main worry about the school. THAT seems very old school to me. What’s the point of all the homework/busywork if it’s not producing better students?

I think the huge emphasis on so much homework without producing great results at the expense of everything else such as extracurriculars with spurts, clubs, etc.. is a big negative why many middle class families don’t send their kids to Banneker.

I support homework but with the volume till 1 or 2am in addition to Saturday prep classes. Not for our DC.

Banneker is producing great results. Where do you think those kids would be if they attended their IB high school? Probably not college bound/ready at all. These students aren’t entering high school with the same level of curriculum as a student entering TJ or Blair, that’s just a fact. Now you can blame DCPS for not implementing gifted programs at the elementary/middle school level but those in power seem to have no interest in changing the status quo. For now, Banneker is providing discipline and rigor and getting bright, hardworking kids ready for a successful college experience.